| "In the weekly Torah reading of Parshat Noach, the story of the Flood and the Ark unfolds. Noah, as we know, was told to build an ark…; however, Noah didn't know when all the discomfort would come to an end. He sends out a raven and then a dove to signal the situation of safe conditions. It was over a year and then he needed to rebuild and plant and rebirth. "So too in many situations, as in mine and for all those who need the time and patience to recover and recuperate, patience is needed. One must have the firm belief that this too shall pass. Our life is a World Series that we play every day. Sometimes we strike out, other times we walk. However, we must never give up on the game and we must always try to catch what is offered to us and get to the bases. You don't want to remain at home plate, but you do want to return to it!" Indeed, we all experience "down times." Whether because of some emotional frustration, an unexpected setback, physical discomfort or an unanticipated gloomy event, we become depressed and moody. At moments like these, we need to remember some simple yet powerful truths. One, that Gd runs the world; and two, that all that happens, happens for the best although it may take a while to see and understand that "best" when it comes around. When the descendants of Noah prove unworthy, HaShem patiently takes ten generations before the great religious personage of Avraham Avinu enters world history (Pirkei Avos 5:2). And then, another six generations before the emergence of the Jewish People. It takes time to heal, time to forge the souls of the righteous, time to produce something precious and enduring. It takes decades to rear children with religious conviction and attributes of kindness and goodness; years before a marriage matures into a relationship of deep love and trust. Is it a test of faith when we are asked to persevere and wait? Perhaps. Or just maybe, certain things simply cannot be rushed. In the end, the pearl maturates from the speck of dust; the diamond emerges from the black coal. May HaShem gives us all the strength and patience to successfully deal with the challenges in our lives and achieve all that we are destined to make of our lives. | 
